All that she went through is nothing compared to the sorrows in my life.. Yet she would always be more than happy to share my problems and try to solve them… Behind her benevolent smile.. you could definitely see a shadow of the dark times she had faced.. But that could happen only if she would let you probe her eyes… and if you had the ability to dig deep.. And she would never allow me to do that!!

‘You are too young to know my reality’, she would say! (HUH!!)

So, what kept her happy 90% of the time? I asked her 2 years back, ‘How, Ma’am how.. What keeps you going through all of this?’

She asked, ‘Why do you bother?’

‘I said, ‘ISN’T IT OBVIOUS? I AM CONCERNED ABOUT YOU BECAUSE I LOVE YOU MA’AM… I CARE FOR YOU!!’ … That was it… My moment of epiphany.. She looked at me, her face flashing the same warm smile.. Reality struck me and somewhere deep inside my heart a something hit so hard, I had never felt so cold before and yet so amazed .. She was happy because even after all these years of mental torture and loss, there were people who really truly loved her.. And one of them, was me!!

She always used to say how great she felt when her children (students) touched her feet, greeted her with affection, approached her in the troubled times, thanked her after the results were out and the never-ending list of such experiences!

She tried to avoid those negative feelings which comprised more than half of her life till now, and used to cherish the love she used to receive from her students! I had never thought about this earlier. I was always like.. I knew parts of her story.. that I overheard while my mother was discussing it with my grandma! I wanted her to speak it out in front of me.. I wanted her to share it with me, like I shared everything with her!

So, one day.. I forced it out of her.. without thinking once that how distressing it might be for her.. that those memories will haunt her insides while recounting them all over again.. Wasn’t it enough that she had suffered once while living through it? Why was I so curious? Why the hell I did not think about it once!!! Well, I was in class 7th when I had asked her.. so I guess, it’s justified. 😛

Her answer as I had mentioned earlier included the following phrases:

I was the eldest daughter of my parents. I raised my younger brothers and sisters after my parents died! I could not get married because I had responsibilities. Now, they call me up once in a blue moon, just to check if I am still alive, or not! I met with a major accident at the age of 26 and my face was completely damaged… Before that, I used to be a beautiful woman! I helped my friend (whom I loved) marry his girlfriend after that accident. I financed some acquaintances when they needed money, they are all rich today, but they never bother to return the loans.

It had rattled my cage, when I saw her composed expressions while narrating the miserable episodes of her life back then. But today, I understand the reason behind every single reaction she gave me!

How positive a person can be..?? As positive as she is.. cause I have written it in short but, she suffered through all this for more than 25 years and still she did not lose hope… So there are no limits to optimism.!! She never went into depression because she tried to find beauty in the darkness, and she did.. She tried to enjoy every day like it’s her last.. She began teaching and it was self-satisfying to build futures. What could be better than that? She loved her students like her own children, and they loved her back.. And she knew that their love was for real and forever!! This is how she made it possible and this is how she is still able to survive!!

PS
Once we had a bet.. she said I’ll forget her when I’ll be at the peak of my career.. and I was like that is impossible.. The bet is still on Ma’am.. I’ll never forget you and it’s only you who will be credited with my success in anything that I achieve ever!! I’ll make it sure!

I’m not sure how destiny works… But, what I do believe is that, our decisions build our future… Dance if you want to, sing if you like to, write if you think you can.. Not because others think you should, not because others think you can.. As it is YOU who will have to live with that choice of becoming a dancer, singer or a writer forever..

What makes me write all this? I am an MBA aspirant and I have been doing my research from a year and a half. I always knew that I can not work under someone for long. I always wanted to employ others, bring a change, & become a writer (3 of my most ‘I really truly want this to happen’ kind of desires).

So first, I thought about how could I achieve all this? The best answer was: Learn management –> Become a business-woman–> Employ others –> Continue writing side by side –> Bring about that “change” with the help of both, management and writing skills!! {What kind of “change” am I going on about? It’s the Indian education system and the future of India. (More about it, later in some random post.)}

Now that I was clear about doing an MBA or else, PGDM (doesn’t really make much difference to me), I had to consider about all the entrance exams that I could appear for.. [Each selection I made, led me to another set of choices.] Then I had to choose among the various coaching classes available.. After which, I had to explore my options for the trainings that I could undergo.. Later, it was about which stream should I specialize in.. And now, that the results are out for various exams (and some are still highly awaited), I’m wondering which college will accept my score, and where should I apply. All of this was not very easy, because all these preferences are going to shape up my future. The number factors that I did consider before shortlisting a few b-schools were many, some of which are:

Where is the college situated?

Will I be able to afford the fee, will I get a loan sanctioned?

Does my choice of stream matches with that university’s flagship program?

What is the structure of course curriculum?

How strong and proficient the faculty is?

What is the culture of that college? Does it reflects within my personality?

What all companies come for placements and what profiles do the offer?

What has been the average CTC (for freshers in my case) in the past few years?

What kind of industrial exposure is provided in the campus?

And many other factors like do my parents know about this b-school, will they let me go? What kind of alumni base does that b-school have? What is their selection criteria? Will I be eligible for the college of my choice? If eligible, will I be able to crack the selection process? Tons and tons of such questions have been swarming in my mind from past few months and this is what made me think about all of this through a more practical yet, philosophical approach. One has to live with their decisions forever, one must be wise while taking one!!

It could be decision regarding whom do you choose to sit with in your primary class? (That person might end up being your best friend for the years to come!!!)

It could be the train you take to travel across your city/country? (That train might be the one which a terrorist group choose to attack the same day!!!)

It could be the subject you take up in your senior school. (Now, this will not only decide your fate, but also that of your family, your nation!!)

It could be the choice of watching some random movie. (It might change your character as a person, if it’s some epic movie like Invictus!!!)

It could be a restaurant you pick for a date, or an outfit you wear for an interview… Just go with your heart, do your research whenever required and once decided, then let it flow… Things will fall into place with their own pace. You will make mistakes, learn from them, mend your ways and move on. And over the years you will realize that what destiny did, was nothing more than showing you the outcome of your choices!!!

The chronicles of education in India

The history of education in India is quite fascinating and splendid. Studies have shown that the scholars and sages have been imparting education orally since the 3rd century BC. Later, palm leaves and barks of trees were used to disseminate education in written form by the scholars. Community centers and temples were the schools’ premises during that period. The Vedas, Puranas, Ayurveda,Yoga, Kautilya’s Arthasahtra are only some of the milestones that the traditional Indian knowledge system boasts of.

Chanakya

The developer of economics.

Gurukulam

There are evidences of providing formal education in ancient India under the Gurukul system, in which young boys who were passing through the Brahmacharya stage of life had to stay at the Guru or the teacher’s home and complete their education. With the introduction of Buddhism, education became available to every Indian and this led to the establishment of some world-famous educational institutions Nalanda, Vikramshila and Takshashila. Nalanda University was the oldest university-system of education in the world, which flourished from the 5th to 13th century AD. This university had around 10,000 resident students and teachers on its roll at one time. These students included Chinese, Sri Lankan, Korean and other international scholars.

Nalanda University

In the 11th century the Muslims established elementary and secondary schools, which led to the forming of few universities too at cities like Delhi, Lucknow and Allahabad. Medieval period saw excellent interaction between Indian and Islamic traditions in all fields of knowledge like theology, religion, philosophy, fine arts, painting, architecture, mathematics, medicine and astronomy.

Although the ancient system of education has produced many geniuses and still a major area of research, it was hardly egalitarian. Women and people of lower castes gradually lost their right to educate themselves. The spread of Jainism, Buddhism, Bhakti and Sufi movements did have some liberating effects on the condition of the women, Sudras and Atisudras. But it is the English language and the reformation movements of the 19th century (with the help of the European missionaries) that had the most liberating effect in pre-independent India. Thus, the Britishers, although rightly criticized for devastating the Indian economy, can also be credited for bringing a revolution in the Indian education system. Since then, Western education has made steady advances in the country. With hundreds of universities and scores of colleges in every discipline, the education system in India is the third largest education system in the world.

A British School

Future Of Education In India?

Education must be of a new type for the sake of the creation of a new world.
– Mahatma Gandhi

I don’t know! I have no idea where it is heading! But I guess, I HAVE THIS LITTLE THEORY OF WHERE IT SHOULD BE HEADING… Then what does the heading of my post signify? Its simple, I would like to know where it is heading, so everyone who comes across this post, is free to answer my question.

My theory

What I personally believe is that an education system should be the one in which a student not only learns languages and memorizes the theories of sciences and practices mathematics (obviously they are the very integral part of education everywhere around the world and I am not questioning their importance at all), but it should be able to create a good, civilized and independent person out of that student. The main aim of the parents who send their children to schools is to make them capable enough to support their family financially when they grow up, and that of students is to merely “pass” all the exams (of course with different target percentages and motives). What is important is the transformation of a child into a socially responsible citizen (of not only her/his nation but that of the world), which is more than often, overlooked.

When the western education became ingrained into Indian society with the establishment of the British Raj, India lost its native educational system. That is really something that I wish should not have happened. Only if we could merge the subjects from western education and Indian education, we could have done so well. It would have been the blend of morality and practicality. “If only”… it sounds so rhetorical. I strongly believe in what I typed above and I am surely going to do something about it. I strongly believe that knowledge should be free and open to use and re-use. I strongly believe that education should be able to make the students much more spiritually conscious, competent, strong-minded, decisive, independent. I strongly believe that education should not be confined to the simple linear forms that today’s textbooks present. Our focus has tended to be on inputs and outlays rather than outcomes. We continue to talk about ensuring enrolments, attendance and completion of schooling. We don’t pay enough attention to the learning outcomes at the end of schooling, and improving the quality of teachers and teaching in both Government and Private schools. People should receive credit and kudos for contributing to education and research. The concepts and ideas of imparting education should be aligned in innovative, unusual and surprising ways. The silicon technology has a large potential in this field and it will help eradicate illiteracy. Sanskrit and Hindi should be taught in a way that kicks off in students a sense of pride towards these languages, they should not be treated as mere subjects, rather as national heritage. Moral education, environmental studies, disaster management should not be treated as mere scoring subjects. A chapter or two from the Ramayana and Mahabharata should not be included in course, rather they should be boasted about as value added services by the schools. Even the parents and grand parents should read such epics to their kids in their homes. Teachers should educate children in such a way that when they grow up, they would be able to opt their stream without any advice from career counselors. Parents should allow their children to enter the field of their choice and only guide them throughout the stage in which they actually decide what they are going to do in their entire life. And may their choice be to become a doctor, engineer, actor or a musician, parents must support them in every way possible. Government should carry out programs that will educate people about the educational opportunities along with the importance of education, nationwide. Financial support should not only be mentioned in government policies but should actually be implemented and the process of taking loans should be made simple and easily accessible. Sports (not only cricket, others as well) should also be given equal importance. Parents and teachers should encourage their children to get involved in sports etc., without pressurizing them for becoming all-rounders. Politics must be eradicated from all the universities. The division of Indians into castes and accordingly reserving seats and reducing fees for under-privileged classes should cease to happen, because it prevents talented students from getting into the college they deserve. This creates a dividing line between the general and the other castes of people. Many have committed suicides in revolt and many more might. This also results in reserving seats for management quota in schools and colleges to cope up with losses (or rather, make some more profits). How will the government explain the so-called “RIGHT TO EQUALITY” when, what it is actually doing is, discriminating its people on the basis of castes. One more thought that comes to my mind is that the students should be injected with the vaccine of nationalism in every stage of their life, so that when they grow up, they will be ready to serve their nation before serving their families.